George Agbede Urges Teachers to Rethink Their Path Ahead of 2026

Education advocate and teacher development coach, George Agbede, has called on Nigerian teachers earning low wages to urgently rethink their mindset and approach to work, stressing that passion alone is no longer enough to guarantee financial stability in the profession.

Speaking on the realities facing educators, George acknowledged that many teachers across the country remain grossly underpaid, not because of a lack of effort or value, but due to long-standing systemic challenges. According to her, remaining frustrated without a clear plan will not change the situation.

“A lot of teachers are underpaid. It’s not because they are lazy or lack value, and it’s certainly not because they are not working hard enough. It’s a system problem,” he said.

George noted that while teaching is a noble and passion-driven profession, teachers must begin to confront financial realities head-on. He warned against the idea that love for teaching alone can sustain livelihoods.

“Loving teaching is beautiful, but love doesn’t pay rent, school fees or medical bills. It’s okay to admit that the classroom alone may not give you the financial stability you deserve,” she stated.

He further highlighted that many teachers underestimate the economic value of their skills beyond the classroom. From explaining complex ideas clearly to mentoring learners, preparing students for examinations and creating learning materials, George said these competencies are highly marketable if positioned correctly.

“The problem is that we’ve been conditioned to limit those skills to school hours and school premises. 2026 should be the year teachers stop boxing themselves in,” she added.

Emphasising the importance of visibility, Tayo encouraged educators to leverage social media and digital platforms to showcase their expertise. According to her, excellence done in silence no longer attracts opportunities in today’s world.

“Visibility is no longer optional; it’s part of growth,” he said.

George also urged teachers to take online teaching more seriously, noting that many educators are already combining physical classroom roles with online tutoring, exam preparation, content creation and teacher training to boost income.

“You don’t have to quit your physical teaching job to earn more. The flexibility and reach online teaching offers cannot be ignored anymore,” George explained.

However, he cautioned that growth requires deliberate investment, whether in time, money or learning new and sometimes uncomfortable skills such as technology and content creation.

“Growth without investment is wishful thinking. The key is to invest wisely and with purpose,” she said.

On pricing, George warned against undervaluing or overpricing services, noting that both extremes can be damaging.

“Charging too little without improving your value will burn you out. Charging high without delivering quality will ruin your credibility,” he said, adding that teachers must align pricing with value and results delivered.

He also stressed the importance of community, urging teachers to seek networks of like-minded professionals for learning and support.

“Teaching can be lonely, and isolation makes it harder. Community shortens the learning curve,” George noted.

In closing, he called on educators to stop glorifying hardship, insisting that financial struggle should not be worn as a badge of honour.

“Teachers deserve rest, dignity and financial stability too. Wanting more doesn’t make you ungrateful; it makes you responsible,” he said.

George concluded by encouraging teachers to adapt intelligently rather than bitterly, expressing optimism that change is possible with intentional action.

“2026 can be different. But only if we decide to be intentional about it,” he said, wishing teachers a happy new year.